Junshan Cultural Center by Neri&Hu: Two Interlocking Journeys in Beijing

Two journeys through one courtyard building

Junshan Cultural Center lies outside Beijing, close to the mountains and waterways around the Miyun Reservoir. Neri&Hu was asked to transform a relatively ordinary two-storey sales building into a clubhouse and cultural destination whose architecture would connect with its landscape. Rather than erase the courtyard layout of the existing ring-shaped structure, the architects made it the basis for a richer spatial sequence of gardens, rooms and circulation.

Junshan Cultural Center sits within a landscape of trees and water, seen from above. Photograph: Pedro Pegenaute.

The proposal creates two routes with related but distinct purposes. Clubhouse members and visitors to the sales centre move through interlocking sequences that sometimes approach and sometimes separate from one another. The design treats a journey through the building as an experience in its own right, giving occupants different paths to discover each visit.

Brick, gardens and the building's landscape

Courtyards are central to this strategy. A principal garden lies at the heart of the building, while smaller planted spaces are placed in relation to rooms and passages. The sequence of interior and exterior places makes nature visible throughout the building, offering sheltered places to pause before moving into the cultural and social programmes.

Brick walls, trees and permanent sculptures define the courtyard at Junshan Cultural Center. Photograph: Pedro Pegenaute.

Vertical facade fins and a reflecting pool at Junshan Cultural Center. Photograph: Pedro Pegenaute.

The architectural language responds to the traditions of northern China without making a literal historical copy. Brick establishes the presence of the main volume, while warm-toned metal screens with a wood-like grain soften the exterior. Their varying positions create different degrees of light, view and privacy, making each facade responsive to the space behind it.

A narrow bridge crosses the reflecting pool toward the entrance of Junshan Cultural Center. Photograph: Pedro Pegenaute.

Light as a sculptural design element

Gold brick tiles extend from outdoor surfaces into the intermediate areas of the building. This continuity helps visitors experience the garden and the rooms as parts of one architectural world. The rich texture of masonry offers a substantial background for finer materials and carefully considered contemporary furnishings.

Inside, sculptural ceilings introduce the most distinctive formal element. Cuts and folded geometries are positioned to interact with skylights and the movement of daylight. Venetian plaster catches these changes subtly, producing an atmosphere that can vary during the day without altering the fundamental design of each room.

White display panels beneath a sculptural ceiling in the gallery at Junshan Cultural Center. Photograph: Pedro Pegenaute.

A sculpted atrium and suspended lights connect the levels of Junshan Cultural Center. Photograph: Pedro Pegenaute.

A library, gallery and spaces for gathering

The ceilings are not simply decorative gestures: they help visitors recognise the individual characters of different rooms while maintaining a common design language. Brass details, natural stone, fabric, custom furniture and integrated lighting introduce a restrained sense of luxury against the heavier brick surfaces.

The cultural programme combines a library, children's reading area, gallery, business lounge, bar, family media room and multipurpose hall. The gallery includes movable hanging walls that can be rearranged for different exhibitions, while large glazing brings the adjoining courtyard into the experience of viewing art.

Red chairs and circular ceiling openings in a hall at Junshan Cultural Center. Photograph: Pedro Pegenaute.

A picture window frames the planted courtyard at Junshan Cultural Center. Photograph: Pedro Pegenaute.

A lounge with pale seating overlooks a planted courtyard at Junshan Cultural Center. Photograph: Pedro Pegenaute.

Hospitality with views of the surrounding mountains

The sales-centre route moves from a double-height reception through a media room and winter garden, then continues over a bridge towards a presentation lounge, VIP rooms and children's play space. These movements are carefully staged so that the commercial purpose is integrated with the more inviting architectural character of the larger building.

The building also offers private dining, a show kitchen, an elevated bar and a rooftop deck with views towards the surrounding landscape. Junshan Cultural Center demonstrates how an inherited courtyard structure can support new social life when architecture, interior materials and nature are considered as one connected experience.

Dark seating and a pale bar occupy the glazed upper lounge at Junshan Cultural Center. Photograph: Pedro Pegenaute.

Project information and photo credits

Project: The Interlocking Journey | Junshan Cultural Center. Address: Jingmi Road, Miyun District, Beijing, China. Architecture, interiors and furniture: Neri&Hu Design and Research Office. Gross area: 4,000 m². Completed October 2018. Awards include the 2020 Interior Design Best of Year Award for a residential sales centre. Photography: Pedro Pegenaute. Each photograph is credited in its caption.

Sources

Neri&Hu — original project profile and image gallery

Neri&Hu — official Junshan Cultural Center press kit and photograph credits